Stars, trees, mountains: Santa Rosa outdoor youth program is using nature to combat gun violence
LandPaths takes at-risk youth out of their concrete, urban environments and into the natural one, offering many their first encounters with the land Alejandro Elizarraraz stands in the middle of a grassy field with a saw in his hands. On a hillside overlooking the lush forests of northern California, the 18 year old cuts back brush and branches as a way to help prevent wildfires. “We’re going to…
Santa Rosa, California, is partnering with LandPaths, an environmental conservancy non-profit, to combat gun violence through outdoor youth programs that immerse at-risk teens in nature's beauty. Alejandro Elizarraraz, an 18-year-old participant, uses a saw to clear brush and branches, while Danny Chaparro, the new audiences manager for LandPaths, oversees programs that bring underserved communities into the region's natural spaces.
The coastal prairie and oak woodland where LandPaths hosts some of its programming is just a 45-minute drive from Elizarraraz's neighborhood, but the high schooler had never spent time outdoors before joining the group. Chaparro, who grew up in a predominantly Latino neighborhood with a history of gang violence, never explored the outdoors either.
Since the violence prevention program launched, Chaparro has observed the positive effects of connecting teens with nature, noting that it helps them redirect their attention away from trouble. The outdoor outings provide a chance for these young people – who have grown up facing poverty, early gang initiation, or the lack of a stable income – to play in the forest, a simple yet profound privilege they never had as children.
After completing the program, some teens like Elizarraraz even go on to work for another environmental stewardship initiative, gaining further exposure to nature and its benefits.
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